WW Reviews

With the Edinburgh Festival Fringe just around the corner in August I have put together a short-ish list of shows which I have seen; I am going to see or which I can’t fit into my schedule but which I think look interesting. I lean towards comedy so please bear that in mind when looking at my list.

For each show click on the link below each image and it will take you to the Edinburgh Fringe website (opens in new tab) to see dates and times available.

https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/it-s-gonna-blow	It’s Gonna Blow	Comedy show. I saw Fishing4Chips show last year and loved it. I was so excited to see they had a new production. My review of Fishing4Chips last show: Burning Down The Horse
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/the-comedy-of-err-arrs	The Comedy of Err-ARRS!	What looks to be a really fun re-imagining of this Shakespeare play with pirates.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/the-steamie	The Steamie	A Scottish comedy classic and more rarely performed than it should be. A must see for everyone as this show puts working class mid 20th century Scotland on full display.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/the-fit-prince-who-gets-switched-on-the-square-in-the-frosty-castle-the-night-before-insert-public-holiday-here	The Fit Prince (who gets switched on the square in the frosty castle the night before (insert public holiday))	A spoof on Hallmark movies. Looks interesting and I’ve heard so many good things about this company.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/a-jaffa-cake-musical	A Jaffa Cake Musical	I saw this extremely funny show last year. I highly recommend – it’s amazing to see tax trials be comedic. My review of this show from last year: A Jaffa Cake Musical
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/300-paintings	300 Paintings	This looks so interesting – talking about art and mental health through a personal story.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/austentatious-an-improvised-jane-austen-novel	Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel	I have always heard great things about this show. If you have never seen it before now is the time.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/ding-dong-avon-calling	Ding Dong Avon Calling	Pyramid schemes; make-up and prosecco. I’m looking forward to seeing all the drama.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/nerds-the-bill-gates-vs-steve-jobs-comedy-musical	Nerds: The Bill Gates vs. Steve Jobs Comedy Musical	I heard about this musical through Broadway actor Rory O’Malley who was part of this show when an investor dropped out before Broadway. Ever since then I have been interested to see what the buzz was about as the material wasn’t released.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/wankernomics-just-touching-base	Wankernomics: Just Touching Base	Having seen clips online this always seems to be really funny.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/sunshine-on-leith	Sunshine on Leith	A Scottish musical – there aren’t many! With brilliant music from The Proclaimers this should be a good time.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/why-i-stuck-a-flare-up-my-arse-for-england	Why I Stuck a Flare Up My Arse for England	This show was so highly reviewed last year I am super excited to see what the buzz was about.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/ikea-wars	Ikea Wars	Competitively building Ikea furniture at midnight – nothing more to say.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/cs-lewis-the-screwtape-letters	CS Lewis’ the Screwtape Letters	Having read the book about two Devils writing to each other – one in training; the other his Uncle and a fully trained Devil. I will be interested to see how this genius and hilarious book is translated to a play.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/escape-room-the-musical	Escape Room: The Musical	New musicals are always intriguing especially when they combine mystery; tension and music.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/come-from-away	Come From Away	I adore this show. I have seen it twice before; on the UK tour and on Broadway. I am super excited and interested to see the material in a smaller, more intimate setting. My UK tour review: Come From Away
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/max-fosh-loophole	Max Fosh: Loophole	I saw this show in Glasgow and really enjoyed it. Now the main tour is over this may be your final chance to see this show. Filled with the usual cheeky Fosh fun as seen on the internet.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/bake-off-the-great-british-pantomime	Bake Off: The Great British Pantomime	As a bake off fan I’m looking forward to the cake drama and bun puns.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/royal-pigeon-mail	Royal Pigeon Mail	Some of the best and funniest shows I have seen at the Fringe have come from University groups. I always look out for novel concepts and this has certainly got me excited.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/absolute-monopoly	Absolute Monopoly	Interactive and supposedly improved Monopoly. This feels like it will be chaotic in all the best possible ways.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/alex-prescot-cosy	Alex Prescot: Cosy	Last year Alex Prescot impressed with his improv comedy songs in an intimate venue. My review of last year’s Alex Prescot show: Alex Prescot: I’ve Got A Song About That
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/the-gummy-bears-great-war	The Gummy Bears’ Great War	Using real gummy bears to reflect humanities purpose seems weird and intriguing. Probably not for everyone but if it sounds like you might like it then I have only heard great things about this company.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/death-on-the-clyde	Death on the Clyde	A Scottish murder mystery mixed with folklore. I love murder mysteries and the bonus of this production being Scottish is great.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/god-is-dead-and-i-killed-him	God Is Dead and I Killed Him	I saw Callum Patrick Hughes last year at the Edinburgh Fringe and was intrigued by his show and the potential for future material. My review of Callum’s show from last year: How Can I Help You?
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/rodney-black-who-cares-it-s-working	Rodney Black: Who Cares? It’s Working	All about controversy, this show tackles cancel culture. It should be interesting to see how this show deals with this topic.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/down-to-chance	Down to Chance	Since Come From Away broke onto Broadway there has been a rise of true hero disaster stories. With immersive sound and a self-described ‘madcap new show’ this might be an interesting new take on this genre.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/140-at-vines-way	140 at Vines Way	A murder mystery with Beauty and the Beast living objects. This mix of detective work and inanimate help might prove exciting.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/club-nvrlnd	Club NVRLND	An immersive clubbing party with 00s hits. Featuring a story about Peter Pan and Wendy with themes of growing up and growing old.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/science-stories-for-grown-ups	Science Stories for Grown-Ups	Science experiments and stories which will hopefully remind me of the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/transfers	Transfers	What looks to be an interesting show about the transfer of money and how money is exchanged.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/murder-at-camp-harmony	Murder at Camp Harmony	A murder comedy about theatre kids in America. Interesting troupes and could be really funny.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/a-night-to-remember	A Night To Remember	A Broadway style take on the Biblical story of the birth of Jesus Christ. Only taking place on 25th August.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/the-mothman-cometh	The Mothman Cometh	Possibly taking part in cult rituals guided by the Mothman in low to no lighting. This might not suit everyone but for interactive and dark theatre this is intriguing.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/we-ll-get-back-to-you	We’ll Get Back To You	Applying for a job where you have no clue – is it you or the system? A slow reveal which always appeals to me.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/end-of-the-world-fm	End of the World FM	Apocalypse story told through a radio broadcaster.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/a-shoddy-detective-and-the-art-of-deception	A Shoddy Detective and the Art of Deception	Farcical whodunnit with chaos and comedy.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/hold-on-to-your-butts	Hold On To Your Butts	I saw this show last year having never seen Jurassic Park but even I couldn’t help but laugh. Super silly. My review of this show from last year: Hold On To Your Butts
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/piano-smashers	Piano Smashers	More dramatic than my usual picks but an interesting play about honouring a last wish verses your own future happiness.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/you-have-failed-me-for-the-last-time	You Have Failed Me for the Last Time	Spy comedy from a Scottish theatre company. Spy comedies are always interesting to produce onstage given that location is both endless and limited.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/a-midsummer-night-s-dream-1	A Midsummer Night’s Dream	The classic Shakespeare comedy set in the world of Love Island. I am so excited to see this.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/the-virtuous-burglar	The Virtuous Burglar	A farce with comic misunderstandings. This seems like a classic old school style farce with fast paced jokes.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/terry-s-an-american-tragedy-about-cars-customers-and-selling-cars-to-customers	Terry’s: An American Tragedy About Cars, Customers and Selling Cars to Customers	Tragi-comedy about targets to meet on selling cars.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/no-higher-purpose	No Higher Purpose	A musical about growing up and questioning life. Set in a world where chickens are worshipped.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/nunsense-the-mega-musical	Nunsense: The Mega-Musical	Although this musical has already been recorded for TV I have yet to see it and it’s been updated for the Fringe. Comedy nuns – always a hit.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/and-they-played-shang-a-lang	And They Played Shang-A-Lang	Scottish jukebox musical with songs by the Bay City Rollers. I’m expecting tartan aplenty and lots of Scottish references.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/sense-a-new-musical-about-dementia	Sense – A New Musical About Dementia	I’ve seen the YouTube ads for this musical and it seems uplifting but extremely sad. Probably a musical that needs a box of tissues to accompany it.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/you-re-fired-the-musical	You’re Fired! The Musical	Showcasing corporate pressure through the pressure cooker environment of reality shows really has me interested.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/macbeth-the-musical	Macbeth: The Musical	The Scottish Musical with rewritten classic pop songs but with the classic Shakespeare story. I always like a good spin on a classic Shakespeare play.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/mary-queen-of-rock	Mary, Queen of Rock!	A semi-historical musical with Mary Queen of Scots as a rock and roll singer where that genre of music is banned.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/the-unstoppable-rise-of-ben-manager	The Unstoppable Rise of Ben Manager	Is this a case of right place, right time or wrong place, wrong time when Ben Manager accidentally gets a job and can’t seem to stop getting promoted.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/dropped	Dropped	Solo performance about the high pressure world of football and what happens when your dreams suddenly end. This seems to be an introspective look at a high profile world.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/a-small-town-northern-tale	A Small Town Northern Tale	All about finding your place with Y2K references aplenty. I’m looking forward to the nostalgia of this piece.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/operation-blank	Operation Blank	Comedy about being woefully underprepared for a crisis at work. But mostly it seems about the woes of Microsoft Teams.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/on-the-harmful-effects-of-tobacco	On the Harmful Effects of Tobacco	Chekhov play that is rarely performed. Short, comedic and all about loneliness seems perfect for the post covid world.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/earnest	…Earnest?	I saw this production last year at the Fringe and it was so brilliant. Amazingly funny and different every night. I would highly recommend this show. My review of this show from last year: The Importance of Being …Earnest?
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/nuns-of-fury	Nuns of Fury	Comedy rock musical. What can I say Sister Act has made me love comedy nuns.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/shantify	Shantify	I’ve heard such good things about this nautical show. Classic songs turned into sea shanties.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/the-detective-s-demise	The Detective’s Demise	Murder comedy musical. I have a type.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/lady-macbeth-played-wing-defence	Lady Macbeth Played Wing Defence	An interesting twist on a Shakespeare classic set in the competitive world of netball.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/csi-crime-scene-improvisation	CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation	I saw this improv show last year in the same room and really enjoyed it. A fun interactive detective show with such a talented improv cast. My review of this show from last year: CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation